Magistrates To Face ‘Contempt Action’ If They Remand People For Social Media Posts Without Following SC Guidelines: AP High Court
The July 5 circular issued by the high court’s registrar states:
“Therefore, all the Judicial Magistrates are hereby instructed to satisfy themselves before ordering remand, particularly in cases relating to social media postings/comments that the Investigating Officer complied with the law laid down in `Arnesh Kumar’ and ‘Imran Pratap Gadhi’ cases that the accused had committed repeated and multiple offences, that the accused, if not ordered to be remanded to judicial custody, may influence the witnesses or tamper evidence that the police require custodial investigation. All the Judicial Magistrates shall follow the circular instructions, scrupulously, and any deviation in this regard will be viewed very seriously. The Judicial Magistrates who violate the circular would render themselves liable for contempt of the High Court besides facing departmental enquiry”.